A 0.35 μm VCO uses current switching to increase voltage swing, lower phase noise by cyclostationary noise alignment, and improve startup reliability. A CMOS VCO in a 3-metal, 0.35 μm process has -139 dBc/Hz phase noise at 3 MHz offset from a 1.8 GHz carrier and 30% of continuous tuning using inductors with Q of 6 and 4 mA dc current.